Reduced fees would benefit both residents doing home renovations and builders constructing multi-storey buildings, planning committee chair Jan Harder wrote in an email.

Should council approve the recommendation at its March 23 meeting, the reduced fees would go into effect April 1.

During the budget consideration process last November, the planning committee asked the city’s building code services branch to review its fees and consider a reduction.

The branch has determined that despite fewer building applications in 2015, reduced fees are still possible thanks to sufficient funds in three city reserve accounts.

Ms. Harder said Building Code Services estimates the fee cut to reduce revenue by between $1.5 million and $1.875 million this year, and between $2 million and $2.5 million in subsequent years, adding that Ottawa’s rates are competitive with those of similar municipalities.